W E D N E S D A Y  W E E K L Y
February 3, 2016
In this Issue

Upcoming Events

February 4
3-6 Maker Morning
8:45 a.m. in Room 26

9-12 Talent Show
Dress Rehearsal - 9:30 a.m.
Performance - 7 p.m.
Learn More


February 10
Information Night for Parents of Rising 3-6 Students
5-6 p.m. in the Great Room
February 11 & 12
Primary & Elementary Parent Conferences
No school for these ages.
Pre-registered child-care available.

Note: Toddler classes run as scheduled on these days.

 
February 15
Mid-Winter Break
No school.
Pre-registered child-care available.


February 16
Transition Morning for Parents of Rising 9-12 Students
9 a.m.


February 17
Transition Morning for Parents of Rising 3-6 Students
9:30 a.m.
Register Now

Annual Meeting
7 p.m. in the Great Room
Learn More


February 18
Transition Morning for Parents of Rising 6-9 Students
9 a.m. 
Register Now 
 

Message from Head of School
Lisa A. Lalama
 
Read more from Lisa on our Montessori Message blog.
This week brings a performance we look forward to each and every year - the 9-12 Talent Show! In case you don't know, the 9-12 students spend months (sometimes years) planning their contribution to the talent show. The youngest of our students are there to cheer on the oldest students as they sing, dance, act in a skit, do gymnastics, play musical instruments and more. On Thursday, our fourth through sixth-graders will strut their stuff on the WMS stage.

There are so many great things about this show, but one that stands out for me is our students' willingness and often eagerness to perform before an audience. They can't wait to be on stage and share their talents. They laugh at the silly jokes and remember acts from previous years with great fondness. The 6-9 students watch eagerly and plot what their acts will be when they are finally in the 9-12 Program. Although they don't take actual notes, they take lots of mental notes along the way. A few years ago, there was a skit with an old man and his son that children found hilarious. They've tried to create new skits with those characters although the original players are now in high school.

The talent show is a reminder of what is so special about WMS. Younger children look to older children as leaders and examples of what great things lie ahead. They are a respectful audience, mesmerized by their older role models, so entranced that they often ask their parents to bring them back for the evening show. Students learn from each other, support each other and cheer each other on. They do what they can to help each other succeed. 

Heather Wadler leads the show with her tremendous knowledge of theater and music;  the children lead the way with their ideas, enthusiasm and energy. It is truly a great WMS evening. We know your children will enjoy it and hope you will drop by for a number or two if you have the chance. The dress rehearsal is at 9:30 a.m. and showtime is at 7 p.m.


   
Co-op Cornercoop
News & NotesNews
Wednesday, February 17 
7 p.m.
On Wednesday, February 17, Wilmington Montessori School's Board of Directors will host its Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for WMS families, staff and other interested community members to hear directly from the board. Members of Wilmington Montessori School Inc. (current parents, Advisory Board and Board Members) will have the opportunity to elect/re-elect Board Members at the meeting. Please look for a ballot in your email later today.

Free child-care will be available for children of attendees, starting at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Cass Winner with the names and ages of your children at least 48 hours before the meeting to reserve space for your child.

If you have any questions about the meeting or elections, please contact WMS_BoD@wmsde.org! 

We hope you will join us at the meeting!

Limited Spaces Still Available for Winter/Spring Learning Together Program
For Parents/Caregivers & Children Ages 6 Months - 2 1/2 Years
 
Based on the Montessori philosophy of "following the child," Learning Together is a program in which young children are free to learn, explore and interact with others in a classroom especially designed for them, alongside adult partners like parents, grandparents, guardians and other consistent caregivers.

Have a younger child who will attend WMS next year?  This is a great way to get him or her acclimated to the school. 
 
Tell a friend or enroll today! 

Saturdays (7 weeks)
Saturdays, February 6 through March 19

9:30-11 a.m.  
Cost: $70 
 
Today's LearnersLearner
"Mi Casa" Spanish Unit Integrates Art & Technology
by Spanish Teacher Ana Brown
 
 
"Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions - as accessible as all other classroom tools."
- National Educational Technology Standards for Students, International Society for Technology in Education
 
9-12 students recently completed a month-long unit entitled "Mi Casa" ("My House") in Spanish class. As we explored vocabulary and pronunciation through conversational activities, the students learned to describe their own houses and the furniture in each room. Students then created their own miniature houses and recorded themselves describing them in Spanish. We generated QR codes for each presentation, which parents were able to scan with their smart phones  in order to listen to a recording of their child's presentation.

This project was a great way to integrate technology into our Spanish program. There was a lot of peer collaboration, and all of the students were actively engaged in the hands-on progression of the assignment.

The creativity was beyond my imagination. They built houses out of LEGOs, cardboard boxes and construction paper only. Each student's effort in building and embellishing his or her "casa" was reflected in the details of each project. Their artistic creations were displayed in the Great Room so parents could come and appreciate the 9-12 students' hard work. 
 
As a student, I remember sitting at desks and listening to hours of lectures, reading dialogue from a book, writing papers and repeating the words (over and over again) to learn a new language. Here at WMS, we are providing students with the opportunity to learn, investigate, explore and create in an interactive environment.
 
This is our second year offering a Spanish program at Wilmington Montessori School, and the students are progressing incredibly with their language skills. They are understanding questions and capable of answering in Spanish. They also make comparisons with words, cultural connections and, most importantly, they are learning to appreciate other cultures without judgment or fear.
 
A great way to engage with your child at home and learn more about our Spanish curriculum is to follow my posts on Edmodo. I am constantly posting educational websites that offer fun activities and good lessons for students that "'follow up'' on and reinforce what we do in the classroom.
Tomorrow's Leadersleaders
Calling all alumni and alumni parents!

We want to know what you're up to! Please send your news to alumni@wmsde.org or take a few moments to share your experiences as a past WMS student or parent.
The Wednesday Weekly shares WMS news and events that are relevant to the families in our community.  

Please send submissions to wednesday-weekly@wmsde.org by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the issue in which you wish to include your information. Content may be edited for length  and style and may be held for a future issue due to space constraints.  

For more information, contact Noel Dietrich, Director of Communications.
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